The Ultimate Gift

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As a child during the holiday season, I would stay up all night wondering what I would be getting for Christmas. As I got older and began to have kids of my own, my thoughts transitioned a bit deeper into what gifts would be the most meaningful and not thrown to the side the week after.

Statistics show that most Americans venture beyond their financial capabilities in order to purchase the perfect gift for their children or spouses. In fact, almost 50% percent of all Americans inquire debt lasting weeks after celebrating the holiday season because of the pressure society has placed on them to buy expensive gifts for their children. I made up in my mind several years ago that I would never follow that pattern with my own children. If we had the money for gifts then they would have gifts, but if not, I wouldn't stress myself out over something so temporary.

We all know what it's like to buy that really expensive gift for our loved ones. As people, we tend to go above and beyond for those we care about each year, overexerting ourselves for the sake of people who barely even check on us throughout the year. However, there is Someone who spent His entire life creating the perfect gift for us, using His own blood, sweat and tears to wrap it. With nothing but thorns on His head and a cross on His back, Jesus Christ offered the most incredible gift one could receive: Himself. He gave up Himself -- His desires, His own will -- to offer up Himself as the greatest gift ever received by man or woman.

14 [For many the Servant of God became an object of horror; many were astonished at Him.] His face and His whole appearance were marred more than any man’s, and His form beyond that of the sons of men—but just as many were astonished at Him, Isaiah 52:14 AMPC

Growing up, my entire family would come together every year and play this game called Secret Santa, also known as White Elephant. In order to play, everyone had to bring a gift and then we would play games to exchange the gifts. My dad would always complain about bringing nice gifts only to receive a pair of socks from his family in exchange. This pattern never failed. While some brought amazing gifts, others simply brought what they could find last minute at the dollar store, making the game seem pointless.

I never thought about it until recently, but is this what we have done with the greatest gift of all time, Jesus Himself?

2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a [a]slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. Ephesians 5:2 AMPC

As believers, we have received the greatest gift of all time through the humiliating torture of Jesus. Unfortunately though, many of us who love to use His name on keychains and bumperstickers often only offer back to Him socks and toilet tissue in exchange.

13 Bring no more offerings of vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility); [your hollow offering of] incense is an abomination to Me; the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure—[it is] iniquity and profanation, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your New Moon festivals and your [hypocritical] appointed feasts My soul hates. They are an oppressive burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 And when you spread forth your hands [in prayer, imploring help], I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood! Isaiah 1:13-15 AMPC

We see that through the blood and agony of Jesus, He offered up Himself as the perfect gift to all who would accept Him. Yet in return, He is not even offered from many of us a spot in our calendars until December 25th. Even on that day we make Him split time with fairytales and Christmas trees.

12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? Romans 10:12-14 AMPC

To make matters worse, on each Sunday when we proclaim to worship Him, He comes in second place to the NFL. In the Old Testament, God said that a great offering smelled great to His nostrils. Our offerings, on the other hand, have given God an overwhelming smell comparable to the New York City alley.

8. “I am the Lord, that is My Name;My glory I will not give to another,Nor My praise to carved idols. Isaiah 42:8 AMP

Not only does Jesus want our entire lives and plans in exchange for what He gave us, for some of us He expects the payment to be returned with our own blood as well.

10 They cried in a loud voice, O [Sovereign] Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?11 Then they were each given a [b]long and flowing and festive white robe and told to rest and wait patiently a little while longer, until the number should be complete of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed as they themselves had been. Revelation 6:10-11 AMPC

This holiday season, we shouldn't allow the joyful music to deceive us from the reality that Jesus Himself says that most of our fates will end in weeping and tears.

Celebrating the birth of Jesus without laying down your life completely is blasphemous.

41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of offense [[a]persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin] and all who do iniquity and act wickedly, 42 And will cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him [b]consider and perceive and understand by hearing. Matthew 13:41-43 AMPC

According to Scripture, He would prefer we pretend He doesn't exist rather than to acknowledge His birth but disregard everything He said and what He actually died for.

41 Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but because you now claim to have sight, your sin remains. [If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but because you insist, We do see clearly, you are unable to escape your guilt.] John 9:41 AMPC

Several years ago on Mother's Day, I asked my sister what she would like. She responded, "I'm a mother everyday, so this day doesn't really mean much to me." I had never thought about it like that, but for those who are fully committed to something, a holiday is just another day. For many of the true believers, Christmas is just another day. Throughout the rest of the year, however, our lives speak of our excitement for the birth of Jesus.

17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). 18 But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as [a]make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]! James 2:17-19 AMPC

Many of the faithful followers of Jesus have had the privilege of giving up homes and missing out on time with children to show their own personal celebration of the birth of Jesus. To those who have prioritized picking up crosses instead of picking out Christmas trees, considered yourself blessed. Jesus is proud of you and your name is written in His book of Life.

27 Then Peter answered Him, saying, Behold, we have left [our] all and have become [h]Your disciples [sided with Your party and followed You]. What then shall we receive? 28 Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, in the new age [the [i]Messianic rebirth of the world], when the Son of Man shall sit down on the throne of His glory, you who have [become My disciples, sided with My party and] followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name’s sake will receive [j]many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who [now] are first will be last [then], and many who [now] are last will be first [then]. Matthew 19:27-30 AMPC

Many people all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus but only a few of those have celebrated His birth with their own death.

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Question of the day: Would Jesus show up to your party based on the gift you have exchanged?